Blackberries are some of my absolute favorites – right up there with raspberries – I love their texture and sweetness and their association with summer. The blackberries paired with a hint of lemon makes this cake really “summer-y.”

I’ve recently become a little obsessed with this food blog – North Dixie Kitchen. Her savory creations that are just as pretty as they are delicious, I’m sure, actually inspire me to whip out the pots and pans and start cooking. And that’s exactly what I did on Sunday since David had to work ALL day. Literally 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. – isn’t funny how when we were in 5th grade we “hated” the idea of a 9-5? Oh if only we knew. 9-5 is the REAL American dream.

Anyway, if you have any berries left over from the 4th this would be a great way to use them. Or if you just want a really pretty summer-y dessert. Have a great start to your week and thanks for reading.

Ingredients:

Cake

2 cups cake flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup of unsalted butter, make sure to take this out before you start baking. Trust me, you’ll thank me.

2. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together milk and lemon juice (mixture will curdle).

3. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until pale and fluffy.

4. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Add flour mixture and milk mixture in batches, beginning and ending with flour, mixing at low speed until just combined.

6. Pour batter in pan, smoothing the top. Repeat process for additional layers. Bake in middle of oven until a toothpick comes out clean or the top of the cake is golden brown with darker sides, about 20 minutes. Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes, then invert onto racks and cool completely.

For Frosting:

1. Puree blackberries in food processor

2. Whip cream and sugar together in a stand mixer on high speed until you have stiff peaks.

3. Gently combine blackberries.

4. Spread frosting on the top of one cake, layer the second on the top of the first cake. Spread frosting on the top of the bottom and the sides (if you prefer).

How to Make the $9 Music Note Art Piece:
When we first got married I was in need of some art work for the walls. I wanted something large because my interior designer friend said one of the main things people don’t pay attention to when they are decorating is scale – putting a tiny frame on a large wall is not to scale, putting a large frame on a large wall is.

I also wanted it to be neutral since it was going to be so big. Lastly I wanted it to be meaningful because it’s always fun when things in a home have a story. Pinterest gave me the idea of this big music note art piece.After a little research I found out that FedEx office and print store will print something this big (30 in. x 40 in.). And they’ll do it for NINE dollars.

I googled “Stand by Me” (the song David and I danced to at our wedding) and clicked images. I still don’t know what instrument my sheet music is for – I just picked one that was high quality, and that I thought would look good repeated. Maybe don’t pick one that’s too simple.

Next I took it to FedEx office print and had a heart to heart with the guy working there. I showed him the pinterest picture, explained my vision etc… He scanned in the one piece of sheet music, then repeated the image over and over on the computer until it filled the dimensions.Nine dollars later I was ready to frame it. I got this frame at hobbylobby. Side note, did you know that at all times ½ of the hobby lobby store is 50% off? And every week or two weeks they flip-flop what things are 50% off. Moral of the story – make sure to frame something this big during the weeks that the frames are 50% off.

Also, can we talk about these pillows for a second? I am in love with them and even more in love with the Store they came from – Club Sally. Two women with great taste got together and cut out the middle man when it comes to interior design.So many clothing and gift stores are always “going to market” – to me “market” is this secret land of goodness where everything is at cost and stores with the “in” get first dibs on what they are going to buy and then resale. Club sally IS the market for interior design. Most things they sell, you can’t get unless you go through an interior designer. But they are changing the game and giving people access to the good stuff. Plus the things they sell are customizable. Yes, please!

If there is a room in your house that needs some sprucing – Club Sally would seriously be the perfect place to start. And since they have such amazing taste you can’t go wrong. Which is so reassuring since not everything for the home is $10. Haha